Ponce's Law toughens animal abuse penalties

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - Animal advocates are rallying behind a bill that would crack down on abusers.

Ponce’s Law would make it easier for judges to sentence convicted animal abused to jail and prevent them from owning an animal, possibly for the rest of their life.

“Some of the things that we see here are pretty severe,” said Adam Stanfield, who heads up the SPCA of Florida in Lakeland.

“When you think about [it], these are helpless living entities that can’t fend for themselves, and people do these horrific for ‘em. It sets your heart on fire,” he said.

Ponce’s Law is the result of an incident on the east coast that infuriated animal lovers. Ponce, a black lab ate some paperwork and his owner beat him to death.